Pointing device
A pointing device is disclosed in the present invention, which comprises a planar sensing unit, an inertial sensing unit and a controller unit. The planar sensing unit is capable of detecting a movement of the point device moving on a planar surface and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly. The inertial sensing unit is capable of detecting a movement of the point device while it is moving in a free space and thus generating an inertial sensing signal accordingly. The controller unit is coupled to the planar sensing unit and the inertial sensing unit for enabling the same to receive and process the planar sensing signal and the inertial sensing signal. In a preferred aspect, the planar sensing unit is capable of detecting and determining whether the pointing device is operating on a surface or in a free space for selectively enabling the pointing device to operate in a mode of two-dimensional detection or in a mode of three-dimensional detection such that users can apply the pointing device freely without being restricted by a surface or a space, and thus not only the usage convenience of the pointing device is enhanced, but also the applications thereof are broadened.
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The present invention relates to a pointing device, and more particularly, to a versatile pointing device integrating a planar sensing unit and an inertial sensing unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWith the rapid development and popularization of computers, more and more attention had been paid to the development of more user-friendly human-machine interface for facilitating the applications of computers. Currently, in addition to keyboards, there are many kinds of pointing devices, such as computer mouse and trackball, being adopted as a means to communicate with computers.
Currently, there are many kinds of computer mouse available on the market, which are the most popular human-machine interface used by computers as cursor-control device. There are three basic types of mice, which are mechanical mouse, LED optical mouse and laser mouse with respect to the different means of detection. However, since the aforesaid mice are constrained to use on a surface, that is, they are only capable of detecting and defining two-dimensional movements, they can no longer meet the requirements of today's video games and multimedia applications, which desire to have a pointing device capable of producing three-dimensional output. Therefore, most manufactures are focusing there research on developing a pointing device with two-dimensional and three-dimensional detection ability.
One such research is a pointing device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,350, entitled “Electronic Pointing Apparatus and Method”. The foregoing pointing apparatus is capable of controlling cursor movement and selecting elements on a computer screen no matter it is being held to move on a surface or in a free space, in which two gyroscopic elements are provided for indicating yaw and pitch movements of the pointing apparatus in free space, and a mouse ball and relating mouse ball encoders are provided for indicating movement of the pointing apparatus on a surface. Although the aforesaid pointing apparatus is operable no matter it is being held to move on a surface or in a free space, it still has following shortcomings: (1) the mouse ball, being the moving part of such pointing apparatus, can become dirty or be affected by dust, damaging the sensitivity of the pointing apparatus. (2) The use of the two pricey gyroscopic elements will cause the manufacturing cost of the pointing apparatus to increase.
One another such research is a spatial input apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,838. The aforesaid spatial input apparatus including a series of coplanar, single axis accelerometers configured to provide information on translation along and rotation around a set of orthogonal axes. However, as the angular velocity variation relating to a movement of the spatial input apparatus is detected by the series of accelerometers and determined by a differential operation that the accuracy of the detection as well as the differential operation are not quite satisfactory, the sensitivity of the spatial input apparatus is questionable.
Therefore, it is in need of a pointing device that is accurate and convenience to operate no matter it is being held to move on a surface or in a free space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is the primary object of the present invention to provide a pointing device integrating a planar sensing unit and an inertial sensing unit that is capable of detecting and determining whether the pointing device is operating on a surface or in a free space for selectively enabling the pointing device to operate in a mode of two-dimensional detection or in a mode of three-dimensional detection.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pointing device, being a device integrating a planar sensing unit and an inertial sensing unit, whose manufacturing cost is comparatively lower than prior-art pointing devices.
Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a versatile pointing device having an inertial sensing unit composed of a plural gyroscopic elements and a plural accelerometers, by which users can apply the pointing device freely without being restricted by a surface or a space, and thus not only the usage convenience of the pointing device is enhanced, but also the applications thereof are broadened.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a pointing device, comprising: a planar sensing unit, capable of detecting a movement of the point device moving on a planar surface and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly; an inertial sensing unit, capable of detecting a movement of the point device while it is moving in a free space and thus generating an inertial sensing signal accordingly; and a controller unit, coupled to the planar sensing unit and the inertial sensing unit for enabling the same to receive and process the planar sensing signal and the inertial sensing signal.
Preferably, the controller unit is connected to an interface unit while the interface unit is further being coupled to the planar sensing unit and the inertial sensing unit and used for converting the planar sensing signal and the inertial sensing signal received thereby into a digital signal to be processed by the controller unit and formed a displacement signal accordingly. In addition, the controller unit is further coupled to an output unit for outputting the displacement signal therefrom to an electronic device, such as a game console, a computer, a multimedia apparatus and other digital apparatuses.
Preferably, the planar sensing unit can be a device selected from the group consisting of a trackball encoder and an optical sensor; and correspondingly, the planar sensing signal can be a signal selected from the group consisting of a pulse signal and an optical signal.
Moreover, to achieve the above objects, the present invention further provides a pointing device, comprising: a planar sensing unit, capable of detecting a movement of the point device moving on a planar surface and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly; a gyroscopic element, capable of detecting and measuring a angular velocity of the pointing device and generating a first sensing signal accordingly; an acceleration sensing part, capable of detecting and measuring an acceleration measured along at least an axis of a set of orthogonal axes of a space and generating a second sensing signal accordingly; and a controller unit, coupled to the planar sensing unit, the gyroscopic element and the acceleration sensing part for enabling the same to receive and process the planar sensing signal, the first sensing signal, and the second sensing signal.
In a preferred aspect, the acceleration sensing part is composed of: a first accelerometer, for detecting an acceleration measured along a second axis of a set of orthogonal axes while the pointing device is being held to move in a space defined by the set of orthogonal axes and an inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about a first axis of the set of orthogonal axes in the space; and a second accelerometer, for detecting an acceleration measured along the first axis while the pointing device is being held to move in the space and an inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about the second axis. Moreover, the pointing device further comprises a switch control, used for controlling the controller unit to receive a signal selected from the group consisting of the first sensing signal of the gyroscopic element and the inclination signal detected by the second accelerometer.
In another preferred aspect, the acceleration sensing part is composed of: a first accelerometer, for detecting an acceleration measured along a second axis of a set of orthogonal axes while the pointing device is being held to move in a space defined by the set of orthogonal axes and an inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about a first axis of the set of orthogonal axes in the space; and a second accelerometer, for detecting an acceleration measured along the first axis while the pointing device is being held to move in the space and an inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about the second axis; and a third accelerometer, for detecting an overturn status of the pointing device.
Preferably, the planar sensing unit is capable of generating a return signal used for enabling the controller unit to switch between a mode of two-dimensional detection and a mode of three-dimensional detection.
Preferably, the controller unit is connected to an interface unit while the interface unit is further being coupled to the planar sensing unit, the gyroscopic element and the acceleration sensing part to be used for converting the planar sensing signal, the first and the second sensing signals received thereby into a digital signal to be processed by the controller unit and formed a displacement signal accordingly. In addition, the controller unit is further coupled to an output unit for outputting the displacement signal therefrom to an electronic device.
Furthermore, to achieve the above objects, the present invention further provides a pointing device, comprising: a planar sensing unit, capable of detecting a movement of the point device moving on a planar surface and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly; a first accelerometer, for detecting an acceleration measured along a second axis of a set of orthogonal axes while the pointing device is being held to move in a space defined by the set of orthogonal axes and an inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about a first axis of the set of orthogonal axes in the space; a second accelerometer, for detecting an acceleration measured along the first axis while the pointing device is being held to move in the space and an inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about the second axis; a third accelerometer, for detecting an overturn status of the pointing device and generating a third sensing signal accordingly; and a controller unit, coupled to the planar sensing unit, the first, the second and the third accelerometers for enabling the same to receive and process the planar sensing signal, the first, the second and the third sensing signals.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.
For your esteemed members of reviewing committee to further understand and recognize the fulfilled functions and structural characteristics of the invention, several preferable embodiments cooperating with detailed description are presented as the follows.
Please refer to
Please refer to
The inertial sensing unit 23 is used for detecting a movement of the point device 2 while it is being held to move in a free space and thus generating an inertial sensing signal accordingly. In this preferred embodiment, the inertial sensing unit 23 is composed of a gyroscopic element 230 and an acceleration sensing part 231 comprising an accelerometer. Operationally, as seen in
As the yawing, status ωz of the pointing device 2 is measured by the gyroscopic element 230 as it is being held to rotate about the Z-axis, the gyroscopic element 230 will correspondingly generate a first rotation signal; and as the pitching 90 of the pointing device 2 is detected and the inclination of the pointing device 2 with respect to the X-axis is measured by the accelerometer of the acceleration sensing part 231, the accelerometer of the acceleration sensing part 231 will correspondingly generate a second rotation signal. Referring to
The planar sensing unit 22, being an optical sensor as in one preferred embodiment of the invention, can be used for determining whether the pointing device 2 is being held to move and operate on a planar surface or in a free space. Since the planar sensing unit 22, as being an optical sensor, is able to detect light reflected from a planar surface while using the reflected light for motion detection, the planar sensing unit 22 will determine that the pointing device 2 is operating on a planar surface when there is reflected light to be sensed thereby; otherwise, it will determine that the pointing device is being held in a free space. Thus, the planar sensing unit 22 is capable of generating a return signal used for enabling the controller unit 24 to switch between a mode of two-dimensional detection and a mode of three-dimensional detection.
Please refer to
By configuring both the gyroscopic element 230 and the second accelerometer 2311 in the pointing device 2, the application of the pointing device 2 can be broadened. Although the function of the gyroscopic element 230 and the second accelerometer 2311 are similar, the addition of the second accelerometer 2311 can enable the pointing device 2 to detect one more movement as indicated by the double-headed arrow 92, i.e. the rolling of the pointing device 2, and thus the variation of motion of the object/cursor controlled by the pointing device 2 is increased.
Please refer to
As seen in
Please refer to
When the pointing device 2 is being held to move and operate in a free space, the pitching, indicated by the double-headed arrow 90, is detected by the first accelerometer 260 that the inclination of the pointing device 2 with respect to the X-axis can be measured and thus a first sensing signal is generated by the first accelerometer 260 to be sent to and processed by the interface unit 21, the controller unit 24 and the output unit 25 and used for controlling the vertical movement of an object/cursor displayed on a display of an electronic device. In addition, the rolling of the point device 2, indicated by the double-headed arrow 92, can be detected by the second accelerometer 261 while enabling the same to measure an included angle formed between the rolling pointing device 2 and the gravity, so that the inclination of the pointing device 2 with respect to the Y-axis can be measured and thus a second sensing signal is generated by the second accelerometer 2610 to be sent to and processed by the interface unit 21, the controller unit 24 and the output unit 25 and used for controlling the horizontal movement of the object/cursor. Moreover, the overturn of the pointing device 2 can be detected by the third accelerometer 262 that are similar to that described with respect to
To sum up, the present invention provides a versatile pointing device having ability to switch between two-dimensional operation and three-dimensional operation mode automatically with respect to whether it is being held to move and operate on a planar surface or in a free space, by which users can apply the pointing device freely without being restricted by a surface or a space, and thus not only the usage convenience of the pointing device is enhanced, but also the applications thereof are broadened.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A pointing device, comprising:
- a planar sensing unit, capable of detecting a movement of the pointing device moving on a planar surface, and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly;
- a gyroscopic element, for detecting and measuring angular velocity of the pointing device when the pointing device is rotated with respect to an axis orthogonal to the planar surface, and generating a yaw signal accordingly;
- a first accelerometer, for detecting and measuring pitch of the pointing device relative to the planar surface when the pointing device is rotated about a first axis in the planar surface with respect to a second axis in the planar surface orthogonal to the first axis, and generating a first inclination signal accordingly;
- a second accelerometer, for detecting and measuring roll of the pointing device relative to the planar surface when the pointing device is rotated about the second axis in the planar surface with respect to the first axis, and generating a second inclination signal accordingly;
- a third accelerometer, for detecting and measuring an overturn status of the pointing device, and generating a third inclination signal accordingly, wherein the third accelerometer generates a return signal used for enabling the controller unit to switch between a mode of two-dimensional detection and a mode of three-dimensional detection;
- an inertial sensing unit comprising the gyroscopic element and the first accelerometer, capable of detecting a movement of the pointing device moving in free space by processing the angular momentum signal and the inclination signal, and generating an inertial sensing signal accordingly;
- an interface unit, coupled to the planar sensing unit and the inertial sensing unit, converts the planar sensing signal and the yaw signal into a corresponding digital signal;
- a controller unit, coupled to the interface unit, which processes and converts the digital signal into a corresponding displacement signal; and
- an output unit, coupled to the controller unit, which processes and converts the displacement signal, providing signals to an electronic device for controlling the horizontal and vertical displacement of an object displayed on a display of the electronic device.
2. The pointing device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a switch control, used for controlling the controller unit to receive a signal selected from the group consisting of the first inclination signal and the second inclination signal.
3. The pointing device of claim 1, further comprising:
- wherein the inertial sensing unit further comprises the third accelerometer, for detecting and measuring an overturn status of the pointing device, and generating a third inclination signal accordingly.
4. The pointing device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a switch control, used for controlling the controller unit to receive a signal selected from the group consisting of the first inclination signal, the second inclination signal, and the third inclination signal.
5. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the planar sensing unit, being an optical sensor, is capable of generating a return signal used for enabling the controller unit to switch between a mode of two-dimensional detection and a mode of three-dimensional detection.
6. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device the a device selected from the group consisting of a game console, a computer, a multimedia apparatus and other digital apparatuses.
7. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the controller unit is further coupled to an output unit for outputting the displacement signal therefrom to an electronic device selected from the group consisting of a game console, a computer, and a multimedia apparatus.
8. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the planar sensing unit is a device selected from the group consisting of a trackball encoder and an optical sensor; and correspondingly, the planar sensing signal is a signal selected from the group consisting of a pulse signal and an optical signal.
9. A pointing device, comprising:
- a planar sensing unit, capable of detecting a movement of the pointing device moving on a planar surface and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly;
- a first accelerometer, for detecting movement of the pointing device moving on a planar surface and generating an first inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about a first axis of the set of orthogonal axes in the space for controlling a vertical movement of a cursor/object in a display;
- a second accelerometer, for detecting movement of the pointing device moving on a planar surface and generating an second inclination signal of the pointing device while the pointing device is being held to rotate about a second axis of the set of orthogonal axes in the space for controlling a horizontal movement of the cursor/object; and
- a third accelerometer, for detecting an overturn status of the pointing device and generating an overturn sensing signal accordingly, wherein the third accelerometer generates a return signal used for enabling the controller unit to switch between a mode of two-dimensional detection and a mode of three-dimensional detection;
- an interface unit, coupled to the planar sensing unit and the first, second, and third accelerometers, for converting the planar sensing signal, the first and second inclination signals, and the overturn sensing signal into a corresponding digital signal; and
- a controller unit, coupled to the interface unit, the planar sensing unit, the first, the second, and the third accelerometers, for enabling the same to receive and process the planar sensing signal, the first inclination signal, the second inclination signal and the sensing signals,
- and which processes and converts the digital signal into a corresponding displacement signal; and
- an output unit, coupled to the controller unit, which processes and converts the displacement signal, providing signals to an electronic device for controlling the horizontal and vertical displacement of an object displayed on a display of the electronic device.
10. The pointing device of claim 9, wherein the planar sensing unit, being an optical sensor, is capable of generating a return signal used for enabling the controller unit to switch between a mode of two-dimensional detection and a mode of three-dimensional detection.
11. The pointing device of claim 9, wherein the planar sensing unit is a device selected from the group consisting of a trackball encoder and an optical sensor; and correspondingly, the planar sensing signal is a signal selected from the group consisting of a pulse signal and an optical signal.
12. The pointing device of claim 9, wherein the controller unit is further coupled to the output unit for outputting the displacement signal therefrom to an electronic device selected from the group consisting of a game console, a computer, and a multimedia apparatus.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 20, 2006
Date of Patent: Oct 19, 2010
Patent Publication Number: 20080122787
Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute (Hsinchu)
Inventors: Shih-Ching Huang (Kaohsiung County), Sheng-Wen Jeng (Tainan), Shun-Nan Liou (Kaohsiung), Ming-Jye Tsai (Hsinchu County)
Primary Examiner: Lun-Yi Lao
Assistant Examiner: Gregory J Tryder
Attorney: WPAT, PC
Application Number: 11/641,657
International Classification: G06F 3/033 (20060101);